BUSAN, South Korea – During the evening hours of October 24, 2024, a fire of unknown origin spread rapidly in a warehouse at U.S. Army Garrison Daegu’s Busan Storage Center. The building was empty and vacant and was undergoing renovations at the time.

While the warehouse became completely unusable, luckily there were no injuries either in the warehouse or among the firefighters who responded to the fire.

Chang, Chun Ki, Busan Crew Chief of the USAG Daegu Fire Department, noticed the smoke while on routine patrol at BSC and called the alarm around 6:30 p.m. Fire extinguishing and alarm systems were disabled due to renovation works. progress was made and cold storage was specifically included in its patrol.

The garrison immediately activated permanent mutual aid agreements with the Busan Fire Department and dispatched two fire trucks in the Busan area to BSC and Pier 8. Two additional engines were sent from Camp Walker in Daegu, about two hours away.

The response of the Busan Fire Department was extraordinary. In total, almost 60 fire trucks and more than 150 firefighters participated in the battle. As the fire grew and began threatening adjacent buildings at the facility, USAG Daegu FD and Korean firefighters remained in defensive mode to prevent the fire from spreading.

Their efforts were extremely effective. While the fire completely engulfed the warehouse, major damage was caused to a single building.

“Our entire effort reflects the incredible talent we have at USAG Daegu,” said Acting Garrison Commander Chester “Chet” Witkowski. “From the firefighters to the team that manages our Emergency Operations Center, our Department of Emergency Services, our Department of Public Works, our Department of Plans, Training, Mobility and Safety, Security and Public Affairs, all of these personnel worked like clockwork to stay there. During my 18 years with the Army Installation Management Command, “In front of the biggest fire I’ve seen all year.”

Following the fire, Witkowski took the opportunity to thank Busan Fire Commissioner Kim Jo Il for his department’s efforts. (In South Korea, Kim ranks only below the country’s fire chief.)

“As we talked, I was amazed by Commissioner Kim’s expression of friendship, his statement that there is a special brotherhood among firefighters, that it does not matter which department you are in or your nationality when fighting a fire,” he said. .

USAG Daegu Fire Chief Francis “Tag” Tagalog echoed Commissioner Kim’s sentiments.

“The cooperation between USAG Daegu Fire and Emergency Services and Busan Fire Department firefighters was truly commendable and demonstrates the importance of teamwork in emergency situations,” Tagalog said. “The establishment of the unified command and formulation of an incident action plan demonstrated the power of brotherhood among firefighters; This resulted in a rapid response and well-coordinated firefighting tactics, ultimately preventing the fire from spreading to nearby facilities. “The successful outcome of this incident is a testament to our firefighters’ commitment and expertise in protecting our community.”

After about five hours of intense efforts, the fire was brought under control around 23:00. Both US and Korean firefighters remained on the scene throughout the night and it was fully extinguished around 8 a.m. on October 25.

While there is no sign of foul play, the investigation into the incident continues.

Built in 1962, the warehouse was a cold storage facility for perishable stocks, and the renovation project included improvements to the refrigeration system as well as fire alarm and extinguishing systems. All asbestos materials in the building had been abated before renovations began on October 11, 2024.

Located in Busan’s Dong-gu, or East District, Busan Warehousing Center hosts numerous warehouses and storage facilities to receive materials brought to South Korea, mostly via Busan’s Pier 8.

U.S. Army Garrison Daegu is South Korea’s IV Army, stretching from Daejeon to Busan. He manages base operations at six U.S. Army installations and 11 installations in his region. As a permanent hub on the peninsula, it also provides support to the U.S. Navy at Chinhae Fleet Activities in Jinhae and the U.S. Marine Corps at Camp Mujuk in Pohang.

Major facilities include Camps Henry, Walker and George in Daegu; Camp Carroll in Waegwan; Pier 8 and Busan Storage Center in Busan; and other small outposts. Major tenant units include the 19th Expeditionary Sustainment Command, 403rd Army Field Support Brigade, and U.S. Army Materiel Supply Center-Korea.